Knickers



INVENTOR.

L. I AUER KNICKERS Filed Nov.

Dec. 8, 1931,

Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES LOUIS LAUER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

KNICKERS Application filed November 30, 1929. Sera1`No. 410,564.

My invention relates to knickerbockers, commonly known as knickers, and more particularly to those portions of such garments which grip the legs of the wearer, namely, the cufs.

It is the main object of my invention to provide garments of the general character specified, which are simple in construction, easy and economical to fabricate and which are admirably adapted to perform the functions hereinafter set forth in detail.

Before describing my invention in detail, it may be desirable to briefly refer to the state of the prior art to which this invention belongs, with a view to indicating the disadvantages heretofore prevalent in this art, and the manner in which my invention overcomes such disadvantage.

There are at present in this art, knickers, the leg-gripping portions or cuffs of which are made of continuous elastic, tubular knitted material which is adapted to resiliently grip the legs of the wearer immediately below the knees. As stated, such cufs are continuous and are provided with no separate fastening means, with the result that in donning the knickers, it is sometimes necessary to remove the wearers shoes in order that the feet may pass through the openings in the cuifs, and even then, there is the disadvantage that while passing the feet through the cuff openings, the cuffs are necessarily stretched, thus causing the same to become out of shape and eventually lose their elasticity.

Furthermore, such cuffs are made of material which is doubled back upon itself, thus needlessly wasting material without gaining any advantage.

My invention overcomes these disadvantages by providing elastic tubular cuffs, which are not continuous, but which are provided with a longitudinal break, so that the free edges and the knitted material adjacent the break may be provided with reinforcing strips of the same material as the knickers proper are made of, which strips are adapted to support fastening means, such as buttons and button holes.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated my invention: l

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a conventional pair of knickers provided with cus made in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of one of the cuffs and the adjacent leg portion;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. Llis a View similar to Fig. 2 showing the cud in an open position.

Referring` now in detail to said views, the numeral generally designates a pair of knickers consisting of the main body portion 11, and the leg portions 12, the former being provided with the usual loops 13, adapted to receive a belt or the like for supporting the knickers on the body of the wearer, and the latter being provided with cuffs at the lower ends thereof Vgenerally designated by the numeral 111.

lnasmuch as both leg portions 12 and as? sociated cu portions 14 are similar, it is deemed necessary to describe only one in detail. The cuff is made of a single strip of elastic tubular knitted material 15 and has the upper edge 15 thereof secured intermediate the material 16 of the leg portion 12, and the lining 17 of such leg portion by a line of stitching 18.

As stated, the material 15 does not extend continuously all around the leg portion 12, but is provided with a longitudinal break and the free edges of the cuff material 15 are provided with reinforcing strips 19 and 20, integrally formed with the outer material 16 of the leg portion 12 and attached at the inner longitudinal edges 19 and 20 thereof to the said free edges of the cuff strip 15.

The strip 19 is provided with one or more buttons 21 adapted to cooperate with corresponding button holes 22 formed in the strip 20.

It will thus be seen that in donning the knickers of the present invention, the buttons 21 are first disengaged from the corresponding buttonV holes 22 and after the wearer has applied the knickers, so that the cuffs are immediately below the knees, the cuffs are closed by means of the fastening means comprising the buttons and the button holes. Thus, the opening aorded by disengaging the fastening means is sufficiently large to conveniently enable the wearer to slip on the knickers Without necessarily removing his shoes and in no way is it possible to wear out the elasticity of the cuffs by conm tinual stretching the same as is necessary in applying the knickers heretofore in this art. It will also be noted that the reinforcing strips adjacent the breaks in the cuEs prevent the edges of the cuf't1 material from be- ]5 ing torn, frayed or otherwise damaged, and lastly it will be noted that the cuffs are made of a single thickness of material, thus effecting a considerable saving while providing the same with the necessary elasticity.

39 Although I have described my invention with considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction shown inasmuch as slight variations may be made without the exercise of the inventive faculties,

and within the scope of the claim hereto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

$0 The combination with a p-air of knickers, of cuffs associated with the leg portions lof the knickers secured to the knickers intermediate tlie outer material and the lining thereof, said cuffs being discontinuous and of a single thickness of elastic tubular knitted material, reinforcing strips integrally formed with the outer material of the knickers and attached to the free edges of said discontinuous cuffs and fasteningmeans carried by said reinforcing strips whereby said discontinuous cuffs may be opened and cl-osed. a

In testimony, whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 25th day of November, 1929.

LOUIS LAUER. 

